Range-extended hybrid powertrains to hit the European market early next decade, the company has announced, following the reveal of the IMQ concept with e-Power drivetrain.

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Nissan has confirmed it will launch vehicles fitted with its e-Powertechnology in Europe before 2022, as part of its ongoing commitment to electrification.

Roel de Vries, Nissan's corporate vice president, made the announcement at the 2019 Geneva motor show in Switzerland, on the back of the reveal of the e-Power-powered IMQ concept – see what we did there?

“Already Nissan is the world’s leader in mass-market EV technologies and a fully electrified Europe is now within our sights,” de Vries said.

"With e-Power arriving on European roads within the next two years, we will bring the benefits of Nissan Intelligent Mobility to more customers and keep moving people to a better world.”

The company hasn't disclosed which members of its European line-up will be getting e-Power technology, though it did say in its press release the range-extended hybrid system will be "among a suite of new technologies coming to Nissan's best-selling vehicles in Europe in the coming three years".

Above: Nissan IMQ concept

With that in mind – and also the fact the Note and Serena aren't offered in Europe – the Micra, Juke and Qashqai are prime candidates to get e-Power in the near future.

In Japan, more than 70 per cent of Note sales and around 50 per cent of Serena sales are e-Power version.

All e-Power models are purely driven by an electric motor, with a petrol engine used solely to charge the battery pack by running "at an optimal speed".

In addition to the e-Power announcement, Nissan also confirmed the long-range Leaf e+ will go on sale in Europe from March 6, which features a larger 62kWh battery pack.

The company says it has already received more than 3000 orders for the high-spec Leaf just a month after its global launch.

Australia

“While it is a concept at the moment, Nissan IMQ represents the future direction of the brand and incorporates exciting technologies, particularly the next generation of e-Power,” said Nissan Australia's managing director, Stephen Lester.

“New powertrain options are becoming more popular, and if e-Power technology is made available in Australia we would definitely be interested.”